Every Storm Is a School, Every Trial a Teacher

In 2 Corinthians 4:17 I read, “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.” (GNT)

When I experience difficulties in life, the first thing I’m inclined to do is blame somebody else. However, regardless of where my problem came from—God still has a purpose for it in my life. 

Even when I do something foolish, God can use it. Even when other people hurt me intentionally, he can use it. Even when the Devil tries to mess things up, God can bring good out of it. 

God’s purpose is greater than my problems and pain. He has a plan! I need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit. 

Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that . . . they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (TLB).

What’s the purpose of my problems and difficulty? God wants me to learn something. Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for my development.

I’m a slow learner. If I don’t learn something the first time, God will bring it up again. It will come back because God is more interested in my character than he is in my comfort. He is more interested in seeing me become more like Christ than he is in making things easy.

When facing a major difficulty, does God have a word for me while you’re going through it? God is essentially saying, “Don’t give up; grow up. Let me make you more like me through this painful situation.” 

Through this difficulty, let God fulfill his purpose—to transform me more and more into the person he created me to be. 

Trust this truth: “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble” (2 Corinthians 4:17 GNT).

My troubles should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I need to realize that there is purpose in my suffering. My problems and limitations have several benefits: (1) they can remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they can keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities!

I need to realize that there is purpose in my troubles and they have several benefits: they remind me of Christ's suffering for me, keep me from pride, cause me to look beyond now, give me opportunities to prove my faith to others, and give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities! This life is preparation for the next. I’m only here for less than a hundred years, but I’ll be in eternity forever. Today’s problems get me ready for an eternity I can’t even imagine right now. Even though today’s problems may seem to be a heavy burden, they’ll seem like nothing later on in heaven. So I need to hang on to that hope, for God is preparing me for eternity with him in heaven! 

Three Ways to Follow God Through Difficulties

In John 16:33 I read, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

In the past few days, I've been looking at and learning how God takes me through the Six Phases of Faith—a dream, decision, delay, difficulty, dead end, and deliverance, to grow my faith and to develop my character.

The fourth phase God uses to grow my faith is when I encounter difficulties on the journey toward my dream. These difficulties are tests, giving me a chance to follow God’s guidance.

In Acts 27, Paul set sail for Rome along with other prisoners on a journey with many difficulties. On one leg of the voyage, Paul warned the crew that if they continued to sail, they would be caught in a major storm and the results would be disastrous. The crew decided to sail anyway.

To avoid the mistakes the crew made—and to faithfully follow God instead—here are three things to remember when I’m facing difficulties:

Follow God, not others’ opinions. On Paul’s journey, “the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship” (Acts 27:11 NIV). Because the “expert” said it was okay, the centurion ignored a warning from God and agreed to head back out to sea. 

If God tells me to do one thing and all the experts in the world tell me to do something else, listen to what God says. His voice is the only one that counts. 

Follow God, not the majority. On Paul’s ship, “the majority decided that [they] should sail on” (Acts 27:12 NIV). The harbor where Paul’s ship had taken refuge was exposed and not a good choice for spending the winter, and so the majority on board wanted to sail on. But the majority is often wrong! 

Peer pressure often keeps people from doing what God wants them to do. Remember that God is a majority of one.

Follow God, not my circumstances. “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed . . . Before very long, a wind of hurricane force . . . swept down from the island” (Acts 27:13-14 NIV). Paul warned the others that they were heading into a storm, but they sailed anyway. 

Just because I’m given an opportunity, it doesn’t mean I have to take it. I shouldn’t accept every job I’m offered. Satan can arrange circumstances too! I need to ask God for his direction.

No matter what difficult circumstances I face in life, I can remain faithful by listening to what God says, remembering his voice is the only one that counts, and following his guidance. 

God’s Goal for Me Is Character, Not Comfort

In Ephesians 4:22-24 I read, “Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." (The Message)

Many religions and philosophies promote the old lie that people are divine or can become gods. Let's be absolutely clear: I will never become God or even a god.

That prideful lie is Satan’s oldest temptation. Satan wanted Adam and Eve to follow his advice and promised them this if they would: “You will be like God . . .” (Genesis 3:5 NIV).

This desire to be a god shows up every time I try to control my circumstances, my future, or the people around me. But I’m a creature; I will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want me to become a god; he wants me to become godly, taking on his values, attitudes, and character.

I am meant to “take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into my conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in me” (Ephesians 4:22-24 The Message).

God’s ultimate goal for my life on Earth is not comfort but character development. He wants me to grow up spiritually and become like Christ.

Becoming like Christ does not mean losing my personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created my uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming my character, not my personality.

Every time I forget that character is one of God’s purposes for my life, I become frustrated by my circumstances. I’ll wonder, “Why is this happening to me? Why am I having such a difficult time?” One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult! Difficulty enables me to grow. Remember, Earth is not heaven.

In John 10:10, Jesus promises: “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (KJV). Many Christians misinterpret this promise of abundant life to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer.

In a word, expecting the Christian life to be easy. Expecting heaven on Earth.

But God is not my genie or my servant. If I fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, I will become severely disillusioned and live in denial of reality.

Life is not about me! I exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa. Why would God provide heaven on Earth when he’s planned the real thing for us in eternity?  

God gives me my time on Earth to build and strengthen my character—so that I’ll be ready for an eternity in heaven.

In summary, many religions and philosophies promote the old lie that people are divine or can become gods. That prideful lie is Satan’s oldest temptation. This desire to be a god shows up every time I try to control my circumstances, my future, or the people around me. But I’m a creature; I will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want me to become a god; he wants me to become godly, taking on his values, attitudes, and character. I am meant to “take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into my conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in me. God’s ultimate goal for my life on Earth is not comfort but character development. He wants me to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. God created my uniqueness, so he certainly doesn’t want to destroy it. Christlikeness is all about transforming my character, not my personality. Every time I forget that character is one of God’s purposes for my life, I become frustrated by my circumstances and wonder, “Why is this happening?” Life is supposed to be difficult! Difficulty enables me to grow. Earth is not heaven. Many misinterpret the promise of abundant life to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. Expecting the Christian life to be easy. Expecting heaven on Earth. But God is not my genie or my servant. If I fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, I will become severely disillusioned and live in denial of reality. Life is not about me! I exist for God’s purposes. God gives me my time on Earth to build and strengthen my character—so that I’ll be ready for an eternity in heaven.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. I should put it behind me like old clothes to be thrown away. When I decided to accept Christ's gift of salvation, it was a one-for-all-time decision along with daily conscious commitments. I am not to be driven by desire and impulse. I must put on a new nature, head in a new direction, and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me. 

God Tests My Faith through Difficulties

In review of 1 Peter 1:6-7 this morning it says, “You are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith” (PHILLIPS).

All believers face trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. I must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares me to meet Christ. As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Likewise, my trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen my faith, making me useful to God. Instead of asking, "why me:?" I should respond to suffering with a new set of responses: 1). Confidence that God knows, plans, and will direct my life for good, leading me to a better future. 2). Perseverance when facing grief, anger, sorrow, and pain. I express my grief, but I don't give in to bitterness and despair. 3). Courage because with Jesus, I need not be afraid. He who suffered for me will not abandon me. Jesus will carry me through everything.

Life is full of problems, pressures, and stresses. There are days when nothing seems to go right. God’s Word reminds me that I shouldn’t be surprised by life’s problems? It says, “You are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith” (1 Peter 1:6-7 PHILLIPS).

As a believer, nothing comes into my life by accident. Everything is Father-filtered. God’s Word doesn’t say everything’s good. But as Romans 8:28 points out, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT), so even the difficulties, irritations, and interruptions, all have a purpose.

We don’t usually realize it when we’re in the situation and may not want to admit it afterward, but every problem has a greater purpose: God does it to prove my faith.

God wants me to respond to difficulties as James points out, “Consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure” (James 1:2-3 GNT).

God uses difficulties to test my faith, and I increase in faith when I rejoice continually and keep a positive attitude in spite of things not going right. When I remain grateful and positive and continue trusting God even in the middle of difficulties, my faith is stretched.

In summary, I'm going to be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations.This isn't an accident, it occurs to prove my faith. I must accept trials as part of the refining process that prepares me for God's use. Things things happen to refine and strengthen my faith. I need to respond with: 1). Confidence that God knows, plans and will direct my life for good, 2). Perseverance, it's ok to express my grief but to not give into bitterness and despair, 3). Courage, because Jesus my savior is there and won't abandon me. Nothing that comes into my life is by accident. God causes everything to work together. So every problem has a greater purpose, they are their to prove and test my faith. I increase in faith when I rejoice continually and keep a positive attitude. 

Father, I can see trials occurring in my life today at work, not knowing what will happen in my job. But I decided to look at everyday as a learning experience. My role is to do the best job possible for the organization and my team. I know based on experience that your in control and will use what happens to help build me so that I can be of use to you. I pray this morning for continued renewal in knowing that you are in charge and will use what is happening to build me. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks and priorities, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.